Jenny at the mill

Jenny at the mill been
Working in the moonlight
Visiting her lover with his warp and weave;
Standing by the street door
Waiting at the corner
Waiting for the signal that it's safe to leave.

Long dark nights and a corner to be hiding
That's what a lover is wanting for
Warmth and shelter the devil would melt for...
A silver snuff spoon full of a lover's sweet kiss.

When the night is warm she's
Leaning by the mill door
Never mind the shuttle going warp and weave
Out across the tops then
Down the ragged lane then
making for the shadow of an old stone wall.

Chorus

Jenny had a sister
Who never could resist a
Man who held her hand in the pale moonlight
Lucky that she's handsome
Caught herself a good one
Now she is a lady with a carriage so bright.

Chorus

Jenny is a good girl
Never said she would girl
Only if she wanted and the time was right
Tells her Billy so and
Says she'll have to go if
He cannot provide her with a carriage so bright.

Chorus

When the night is cold and
Frost is on the windows
Jenny stays inside by the warming fire
Billy takes her hand and
Tells her that he's found her
A better place to shelter from the cold night air.

Chorus

Written for Resolution.

I started life in Bolton in Lancashire, living 100 yards from what is now the sole surviving mill chimney. Back then, if you went just out of Bolton up on to the tops (the moors above Bolton) you could count 16 mill chimneys - I have a photograph to prove it! I think Fred Dibnah - who was a local man - was responsible for all of them.

In the alley behind our terraced house there were girls who I assume worked in the mill (I was only three), and they seemed a lively lot - none of the depression that is associated with mills in 'traditional' folk songs. So I thought I'd bring a bit of realism to the subject.